Pause

Listen to the Mustn'ts, child,
listen to the Don'ts.
Listen to the Shouldn'ts,
the Impossibles, the Won'ts.
Listen to the Never Haves,
then listen close to me.
Anything can happen, child,
Anything can be.

from Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (1974)

When the world is giving you more than you think you can handle…

When you’re ready to say, “Enough already!”…

God says, “Listen close to me. All things are possible through my love.”

Think

The average person spends about five years of their life waiting in lines. Five years! We spend lots of time waiting on other things too. Waiting on someone to text us back. Waiting to be older. Waiting for love. Waiting to do something hard until we feel brave enough. Waiting for our bodies or circumstances or lives to change. Waiting… waiting… waiting.

All this waiting can be frustrating. Sometimes we feel stuck. Sometimes we need to change a bad situation. In those seasons of life, it’s helpful to remember that God’s on our side, working on our behalf. “We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to God’s purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Life is full of waiting, but waiting shouldn’t be a passive activity. God wants us to wait actively, hopefully, and prayerfully. So the next time you find yourself at a traffic light or in line at Chipotle or staring at your phone, take a moment to thank God for working for and with us.

Pray

Go

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The light and love of God is enough to conquer all darkness, hate, and fear.

Today, and every day, walk through your life trusting in the power of God’s love.

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writer

Carrie Zimmerman

Carrie Zimmerman lives in Washington, DC and works with colleges and universities around the country to build community and address issues of civility, diversity, and inclusivity. She knows all the President’s middle names and in 3rd grade had a pet skunk named Pepe le Pew.